Material reducing rotor



March 7, 1950 B. H. LANDENBERGER 2,499,512

MATERIAL REDUCING ROTOR Filed May El, 1946 27 [N vE/vTo/e BERNARD H.LANDENBEEGEE;

Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES 2 49925 xa'enneme ROTOR Bernard H;Lafiaenber swam-W's" Ohm; as;

signal to-"Ih'e Jeffrey M a'corporation of Ohio An importaht 'Qbj ect"of my invention isto prb vide an imp'rbv'ed mmerierreduei-ng rdtofliaving hammers dr nieiterialtredi'iciug 'elemefits pf 'a rigid 0?semi-rigid. typew'herein the materiabreducihg elements include a"plurality of surfaces,- legs or extending'members; the hammers ormaterial r'edubihg' elements beihigfiioitionable 1113011 Said rotbr'whereby the surfaces; legs -01" extendin me'm betsiidaiybeselectively emplbye'das vi brkihg-ele ifierltsfoffeducirig materiel: M

Another important 'onueizt of my ir'iventionis to"pt'ovid'e"irhjjrved"means"foi s'e'xzuifingktndf pesi-- tioning'ham'rneror material reducing lemeritsto materialreducing r'otors'whe'reby thepositions of the 'Iii'atfiM reducing elements'niey be changedwithdespect t6 the rotor. v I I In carrying out the 'for'e'goiri'gObject it is a further Object Of my invention tiypr'dvide' a; met'erialreducing rbtbfelen'ient havingim'p'r'oved meens'for securingthehttri'mer or material reducing e1emehtsj therete, the-means fpr'securing the materiel-reducing el mefts mcludmg spaced means eaepteetointerfit'f the Hemmer mate fialr'ducingel'e'lfnfits with tl'le'ibtoi,said means prefeial'bly being'eifrang'd symmetrically whereby the p'esitieh's' df thematefial reducing elements may be selectively climie'edwith respectto the roter tr)" per'mi't' rbtatib'fi of thereducingelement's t0 differeifit 'pq'sitior'ls"th'eiebypifmitting the materialrduciiig elements to fiinctibh as thematerial r'e'dubih'g' meaIiSthereof, j I v Ar ioth'r Obj'bt Of my 'mventiofi'i's' tb pidvidea,material reducing rotor which carries 2t plurality of removable hammersor material reducing elemerits of the rigid or semi-rigid type'wheieinthe material reduci'rig'l ele'r'riefit' ere transferred directlyto the rotor through the"s'pzfcd. meats.

Other objects of the :ihveritio'n Will'- apbehr hereinafterthe novelfeatures alrid cor'iihifiaitibfis beingset forth imthealppendedclali'lh's;

Inthe accompdziyiflg drqwifigfs,

' disc eperturee have their eefitereon the eireumferenceofimomdesrifib'edin Patent 2.1. Fig: 1 i'sa -Vextkhl seetien 0f a'-rotxry reducing Fig. 2 1s awfmgmentary View ihelevaition of-the T'Otorshdwh iii 1 1g; 1} a' po'rtibh thereof being removed to show feetuaes of its construction more e u a suitablefferm O'f mejteiial -reducitigcas' 'ihg"dr* Housing endwhe-numeral I 4 a rotor: body or e semmyof"suitebleconstructiun which is tb Be 'qescrihed" in deteiLheremefter;

Thei dtbr eis'erfibly H Yaludes e -nu'rriben of center disc's o'fpltte'me'mldere I2 and a p'a'ir: or enddi'se o'r latemembers m ke edbnyeshait.Ii. The shaft W is=revo1veb1e' in suitaible bearm'gs bf thehousing In, which are fibt 'shownt Thedisbs e1 p' 1ates== I 2 and iaere-exaeily speeed on: the shaft {W by mee'rrs, of s acer c'o'ila'rs l5keyed with the tetheslfieiffiz l-l by-"a key Hi; The discs -br plates 12mi d I 3 are prb'iiidd-viithei number of H "(see Fig z 3)" 2311- ofwhieh preferably a'pe'rtures- W reeeive teas- 0v pins I 8 extend througheline themses F2 emu I3 The ends of "s't's dfhlustered hammerholders inthe iorm of specea blacks or summer fbr'min'g: members '20 materialreducing elements" 2 1 to the 11 1508101 plate l3 of the rotor as seenin Fig. 2. These blocks are preferably, but not necessarily, securedpermanently to the discs or plates as by molding them integral therewithor by welding them thereto. As shown in the drawings, each of the discsor plates l2 and I3 is provided with six of the apertures H which areequally spaced therein, and, with the exception of the right hand discl3, every other one of the apertures in each disc has clustered about itin spaced relation a set of hammer holding blocks 20.

The apertures I! are formed in the discs or plates l2 and l3 so thatwhen the discs or plates are secured and keyed to the shaft M theapertures I? will be in alignment for receiving the rods or pins l8.Preferably the sets of spaced blocks or fastening members 20 of eachplate are arranged in staggered relation with the spaced sets of hammerholding blocks or fastening members 20 of the adjacent plates or discs,as seen in Fig. 2, but it will be obvious that any desired arrangementof the sets of hammer holders 2% of one disc or plate with respect tothose of the other discs or plates may be had.

In Fig. 4 a preferred form of hammer or material reducing element 2| isshown. This element is generally flat and includes a central opening 22from about which extend radially three legs or projections 23. Theprojections or legs 23 are spaced equally and the sides thereof formmate rial reducing hammer surfaces 24 that are formed to provide sharpcutting edges 25 where they intersect the end surfaces 26 of each leg orprojection 23. Each hammer element 2| is adapted to fit slidablysidewardly or axially into the spaces between the blocks 20 of each setthereof and is received or embraced about its hub or base, the blocks 20extending in the spaces 21 between the legs 23 of the hammer elements.The blocks 20 are so shaped and spaced with respect to the apertureabout which they are clustered and with respect to the contour of thereducing element 2|, that the projections, legs, or shoulder elements 23thereof extend between the blocks 20 and the surfaces 24 thereof engagethe shoulder or side surfaces of the blocks. The blocks 20 retain theelements 2| in such position that the or l3 to which the blocks aresecured. The material reducing hammer elements 2| are retained againstsideward or axial movement in the opposite direction or away from thediscs which they abut, which movement would result in theirdisengagement from the blocks 20, by spacer collars 28 which are securedbetween the elements 2| and the adjacent discs or plates l2 and l3. Therods or pins l8 extend through the aligned apertures I! in the discs l2and I3, through the collars 28 and the openings 22 in the elements 2!and are secured therein by the nuts l9.

It will be obvious that one leg 23 of each of the hammer elements 2|projects radially beyond the peripheries of the discs while the otherlegs 23 thereof are within the peripheries thereof. As a consequence ofthis arrangement only that leg of the hammer element which projectsbeyond the peripheries of the discs will function as a working leg. Itwillalso be seen that the functions of the rods or pins la is to tie theplates or discs l2 and I3 together and to retain the spacer collars 28in position. The hammer elements 2| are retained or secured to the rotorbody against both inward and outward radial movement and againstrotation about their own centers by the spaced sets of spaced blocks 20which may closely interfit the irregularities in the shape or contour ofthe material reducing elements 2|. In each cluster of three holdingblocks 20 there are two adjacent each hammer element 2|, one on eachside thereof, which are peripherally spaced apart and are radiallyoutside the inwardly extending legs of said element 2|, thus looking itagainst radially outward movement. The third block 20 is radially inwardof the two outer blocks 2! and is between said inwardly extending legs,thus locking said element 2| against radial inward movement. All threeblocks 20 obviously lock each element 2| against rotary movement aboutits center. The rods or pins l8 do not carry the hammer elements, butthe holding blocks 20 do and therefore the rods or pins are notsubjected to shear loads by the hammers. The shear loads of the hammersare transferred directly to the discs through the blocks 20.

When the rotor II is in operation, the centrifugal force of the hammerelements 2| causes them to tend to center themselves between the outerpair of the spaced blocks 25. Because of the relatively small inclinesof the angles'between the innermost surfaces of the outer blocks, thatis, the included angle between them, the elements will not become lockedto the discs or plates |2 and I3, although in certain instances it maybe desirable to make the included angle more acute so that such actionwill occur.

The construction and arrangement of the mechanism hereinbefore describedwhich permits reversing and shifting of the positions of the materialreducing hammer elements 2| with respect to the rotor H is an importantfeature of my invention. The means for accomplishing this reversibilityand shiftability is, namely, the spaced sets of spaced hammer holdingblocks, shoulder or abutment forming means 28, and the arrangementthereof in which they preferably extend between adjacent pairs of discsor plates I2 and I3. With the arrangement described, the hammer elements2| may be removed and reversed, that is, the sides thereof adjacent the,plates 12 or |3 may be made to face the side of the next adjacent plateby removing the rods or pins |8, the spacer collars 28, andby removingthe element 2| by sliding it from its holding blocks and turning it sidefor side and replacing it between its set of spaced blocks 2|] and thenreplacing the spacer collars and pins. Because the elements 2| aresymmetrical, they may each be removed from between their holding blocks20 and rotated upon the axis of their central opening and then bereplaced between their holding blocks to present a new material reducingsurface or leg which extends beyond the periphery of the discs or plates|2 or I3. This is particularly advantageous since in operation theleading or sharp cutting edges 25 as well as the surfaces 2 5 and 26that are functioning as the working surfaces and edges of the hammers 2|may become worn and they may be renewed simply by removing the hammerelements from their holding blocks 2|] and by rotating each of theelements upon its axis through degrees and replacing and locking themwithin their holders. When one edge 25 has been worn from each of thelegs 23 egress-re direction and then their direction of rotation maybereversed, both of the cutting edges of each leg. which is functioning asa working leg'may'bewornaway. 'In'such case both of said edges ofeach'hammer may be renewed by merely removing each hammer element 2|from between its holding blocks-2i! and rotating it through 120 degreesupon its axisand replacing it within its holding blocks.

While I have shown a preferred element 2| as including three legs 23, itwill be understood that anelement having-more or'less legs than'theelement shownmay be used and in certain instances may be more desirablethan the element whichl have shown. It'will, of course, be understoodthat should the outer contour of the element 2! be changed-by adding orsubtracting proje'ctions or legs, the shape or arrangement or both ofthe sets of spaced blocks or members 20 will be "changed accordingly.- p

Referring againto Fig. 1, the apparatus-shown there includes my improvedapparatus rotor and in theoperation of this device lumps of material tobe reduced are fed into the apparatus through a feed opening 29 in thetop thereof and" the lumps of material fall into a material reducingchamber 30.- or what is=known in the art as a torture chamber. As'seenin Fig. l the material reducing chamber or torture chamber is above therotor assembly II. In the embodiment of the material reducing apparatusshown, the rotor assembly ll rotates counterclockwise and the hammer ormaterial reducing elements 2i thereof strike the lumps of materialfalling into the chamber 38 and fracture, cut and/or knock them againstthe left side of the chamber 3!! and against breaker or liner plates 3!thereof, thereby further reducing them. The lower liner plate 3|includes an inwardly projecting portion 32 which extends transversely ofthe chamber 30 and closely adjacent the peripheral path of the materialreducing hammers 2| which cooperate therewith to grind or pulverize thematerial. Thus the portion 32 forms a grinding element, surface or barwhich extends entirely across the bottom of the chamber 30.

As material which is being reduced falls or otherwise comes between theedges 25 of the hammers 2i and an edge 33.0f the portion 32 of the lowerliner plate 38, it is cut, crushed, or otherwise fractured, to reducethe size of the particles so that they may pass through spaces 34between the rotor l l and the lower liner plate 3|. Material whichpasses through the space 34 will fall or be knocked downwardly upon atwo piece screen 35 which encases the lower half of the rotor assembly ll. Thus particles which have been sufiiciently reduced in size will passbetween the bars of the screen 35 and will be discharged through theopen bottom of the casing or housing Ill as the finished product of thereall v p H The particies 'of fma'terial which 'passtnrougn the spaces?but which have not-beensufiiciently reducedtopermit them to passbetweenthebarsoFthe screen 35 will be carried ver the screen by thereducing "hammere :21 andtreturried tdthe' reducing chamber 30wh'ereth'ey-will again be submitted to the material reducing "actionstaking place "therein:

With improved apparatus rotorithe rota-- tiiinar'rcrce or the hammerelements 2I upon their 'axe'screat e'd by their strikin'g'and grindingthelu'mps of material; as well as the centrifugal forcede'velopedbythem'gare transferred directly tothe disc's I2 andl3 of the rotorassembly through theblocl'zs 20" of thesets thereof which form thehammer-"holding elements: It is to' be particularly'notedthat the rodsor pins l8 "do not functionally" connect the material reducing or hammerelements 2! with the discs 'l2 and I13 ahd'tha't' therefore" theelements?! impart no shear 'loadsto therods or pins. As" previouslymentioned, the rods or pins" l fl function to retain the spacer elements28 in position and to tie the discs 12 and I3 together.

From'the foregoing it will be obvious that I have provided" an improvedmaterial reducing apparatus wherein themate'rial' reducing elements maybe of the rigid or se'mi-rigid'type and wherein'the' workingforcesexerted by them are transmitted directly to the discs l2 and it throughthe blocks 20 which form parts thereof. It will be seen, however, thatthe blocks 2lln'e'ed not form integral parts of the" discs I2 and I3 butbere'movably secured thereto as by means of'bolts', rivets orthe like. Iv

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in' thedetails" and arrangement of parts without departing from thespiritfandscope of-the-invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and Iwish therefore notto be restricted tothe precise constructionh'ereindisclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what Idesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A rotor including a shaft, a plurality of spaced discs carried anddriven by said shaft, a plurality of removable material reducing hammerelements each having at least three legs wherein different legs of saidhammer elements may be positioned to extend radially outward beyond saiddiscs thereby to function as working elements for reducing material,said rotor being adapted for use in a material reducing apparatus, saidmaterial reducing hammers being between said discs, each hammerincluding at least three spaced legs extending radially from a centralaxis, one of said legs extending radially outwardly beyond said discs,other of said legs extending inwardly of the peripheries of said discs,spaced sets of spaced blocks secured to the discs, c et including twoblocks adjacent the periphery of a disc and on opposite sides of theoutwardly extending hammer element leg and radially outwardly of saidinwardly extending legs, an inner block positioned between said inwardlyextending legs, all said blocks being adapted to receive interfittinglyone of said material reducing hammer elements, and means retaining saidhammer elements against axial movement relative to said blocks, wherebysaid sets of blocks retain said material reducing hammer elementsagainst both radial inward and radially outward movement relative tosaid discs and against rotational movement upon their axes.

2. A rotor including a shaft, a plurality of spaced discs carried anddriven by said shaft, a plurality of removable material reducing hammerelements each having at least three legs wherein different legs of saidhammer elements may be positioned to extend radially outward beyond saiddiscs thereby to function as working elements for reducing material,said rotor being adapted for use in a material reducing apparatus, saidmaterial reducing hammers being between said discs, each hammerincluding at least three spaced legs extending radially from a centralaxis, one of said legs extending radially outwardly beyond said discs,other of said legs extending inwardly of the peripheries of said discs,spaced sets of spaced blocks secured to the discs, each set includingtwo blocks adjacent the periphery of a disc and on opposite sides of theoutwardly extending hammer element leg and radially outwardly of saidinwardly extending legs, said blocks being adapted to receiveinterfittingly one of said material reducing hammer elements, and meansretaining said hammer elements against axial movement relative to saidblocks, whereby said sets of blocks retain said material reducing hammerelements against radially outward movement relative to said discs.

3. A rotor including a shaft, a plurality of spaced discs carried anddriven by said shaft, a plurality of removable material reducing hammerelements each having at least three legs wherein different legs of saidhammer elements may be positioned to extend radially outward beyond saiddiscs thereby to function as working elements for reducing material,said rotor being adapted for use in a material reducing apparatus, saidmaterial reducing hammers being between said discs, each hammerincluding at least three spaced legs extending radially from a centralaxis, one of said legs extending radially outwardly beyond said discs,other of said legs extending inwardly of the peripheries of said discs,spaced sets of spaced blocks secured to the discs, each set includingtwo blocks adjacent the periphery of a disc and on opposite sides of theoutwardly extending hammer element leg and radially outwardly of saidinwardly extending legs, at least one inner block positioned radiallyinwardly of said disc periphery and radially inwardly of some of saidother legs which extend inwardly of the peripheries of said discs, allsaid blocks being adapted to receive interfittingly one of said materialreducing hammer elements, and means retaining said hammer elementsagainst axial movement relative to said blocks, whereby said sets ofblocks retain said material reducing hammer elements against both radialoutward and inward movement relative to said discs and againstrotational movement upon their axes.

BERNARD H. LANDEN BERGER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,041,495Liggett et al. Oct. 15, 1912 1,362,948 Lehrack Dec. 21, 1920 1,769,867Stoner July 1, 1930 1,787,828 Levin Jan. 6, 1931 1,797,107 Veeder Mar.17, 1931 1,941,923 Armour Jan. 2, 1934 1,996,485 Parker Apr. 2, 19352,141,663 Ossing Dec. 27, 1938 2,141,664 Ossing Dec. 27, 1938 2,283,402Welty May 19, 1942 2,306,983 Schutte Dec. 29, 1942 2,339,390 Fowler Jan.18, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 89,530 Germany Nov. 24,1896

